Surnames: Erickson, Radde, Haas, Schroeder, Dekarske, Wolf, Krotzman

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wisconsin) Thursday, 29 Jan. 2009

Erickson, Vila L. (24 July 1916 - 27 Jan. 2009)

Vila L. Erickson, 92, of Colby, formerly of Dorchester and Marshfield, Wisconsin, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, in the emergency department at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

Her funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, 2009, at Zion Lutheran Church in Colby, Wis. The Rev. Donn Radde will officiate. Burial will follow in Brooklawn Memorial Cemetery in the town of Richfield in Wood County.

Visitation will be at the church in Colby, Wisconsin on Friday from 9 a.m. until time of service. Vila's grandsons will serve as her pallbearers.

Vila was born July 24, 1916, in Vesper, to Paul and Selma (Haas) Schroeder. She attended a country school near Vesper until the eighth grade. Vila continued her education by attending Ag School in Wisconsin Rapids then later at the Mendota College in Madison where she received training in occupational therapy.

The former Vila Schroeder married Albert Dekarske on Jan. 9, 1937, in the Lutheran Parsonage in Arpin. Albert died Oct. 7, 1968. She later married Carl Salem Erickson on Sept. 22, 1973, in the Lutheran Parsonage in Thorp. Carl died July 29, 1988.

Vila was employed as an activity director at what was known as the Wood County Hospital and Farm in Marshfield. In 1968 she became employed at the Colonial Center in Colby as their activity director. She retired from there in 1975.

Vila was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Colby, and a former member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in rural Colby and Trinity Lutheran Church in Marshfield and St. Peter Lutheran Church in Dorchester, Wis. Vila had previously served on various Ladies Aid organization and homemakers groups including the Clovernook Homemakers Club of Colby, Wis. Vila also taught Sunday school at the various churches.

Her family, especially her grandchildren, referred to Vila as the "Cookie Grandma" because of the delicious cooking and baking of cookies she did for her family.

She enjoyed her crafting and working among the beautiful flowers in her garden, but the most important thing to Vila was serving the Lord and being with family and friends.

Vila is survived by her children: Robert (Marilee) Dekarske of Marshfield; Betty (Donald) Wolf of Dorchester and Richard (Nancy) Dekarske of Altoona. She is further survived by 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Arlene (Kenneth) Krotzman of New Lisbon.

Vila was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; one brother, Clarence; and two sisters, Lorraine and Neva; and one brother and one sister both in infancy.

The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home of Abbotsford, 715-223-3872, is assisting Vila's family with her arrangements.